Insulating-joint for pipe systems.



A. J. LOEPSINGER.

INSULATING JOINT FOB. PIPE SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28, 1911.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914-,

//2M I V 1 Mt W f aveniw UNETED SATES PATENT QFlFltQE,

ALBERT JOHN LOEPSINGEE, OF PBDVIDENCE, BI-IQDE ISLAND, A$SIGNOR TOGENERAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, EI-IODE ISLAND, ACQRFORA'EION OF NEW YORK.

INSULATING-JOINT FOR PIPE SYSTEIVI$.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1:, Annual J. LOEPSINGER, a of the United States,residing at Fro-vidcnce, in the county of Providence and State of lihodeisland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Insulating- Jointsfor Pipe Systems, of which the following is a specification.

In certain classes of buildings in. which dry-pipe automatic sprinklersystems are installed, such as car barns, for example, a source ofdanger to persons employed in such buildings has heretofore been foundin the liability of their being subjected to a dangerous electriccurrent by coming in contact with the sprinkler pipe system, betweenwhich and the circuit wires commonly employed in such locationselectrical communication is liable to he accidentally established, andmy present invention is particularly intended to do away with the dangerabove re ferred to by providing an insulating section adapted to beinserted into a dry-pipe sprinkler system between the dry-pipe valve andthe supply riser, thus interrupting at this point any electrical circuitwhich might otherwise be established through said pipes and valve. Tothis end I have devised an insulating pipe section which, as preferablyconstructed, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows one half of the insulating section in side elevation andthe other half in central longitudinal section; and Fig. 2- shows acentral transverse section through the same.

In the drawings, 2 and 3 indicate short pipe sections which constitutethe end portions of my device and are preferably identical in size andshape, so that either may be used at either end of the complete device.Each of these sections is preferably cast in a single piece and hasflanged ends, the outer flanges being adapted to bebolted to the top ofthe dry-pipe valve and to the flanged lower end of the supply riser,respectively. Between the sections 2 and 3 is located an insulatingcylinder composed of sections 4 preferably made of hickory and shapedsubstantially like the staves of a barrel in transverse contour, saidsections being connected to one another at their adjacent edges bywooden keys 5. The cylinder thus formed is lined with a tube 6 made ofsoft rubber and having at its ends outwardly-extending Specification ofLetters Patent. Application filed August as, 1911.

Patented An M, 1914. Serial No. 646,418.

flanges '4" which overlie the adjacent ends of the sections t and keys5, and the ends of the composite structure thus constituted are placedagainst the opposed inn-er ends of the sectionsQ and 3' and centeredwith respect to the same by means of annular flanges S and 9 formedthereon respectively, the parts being so proportioned that a waterway ofuniform diameter is provided through the sections 2 and 3 and the insulating cylinder. Said parts are firmly secured together by means ofbolts 10 passing through the inner flanges of the sections 2 and 3 onthe outside of the insulating cylinder, each of said bolts beingsurrounded by a tube 11 made of fiber or other suitable insulatingmaterial, and insulating fiber washers 12 being also located between theheads of the bolts 10 and the flanges through which said bolts pass.

hen the parts are assembled the nuts on the bolts 10 are screwed downand the sections 2 and 3 are thereby caused to exert pressure upon theinsulating cylinder in an endwise direction and compress the soft rubberflanges 7, eachof which serves as a watertight packing as well as an insulating layer, the insulating tubes 11 being made enough shorter thanthe bolts to provide for slight variations in the length of saidinsulating cylinder by reason of compression or otherwise. As thusconstructed, the sections 2 and 3 are completely insulated from eachother by means of the composite cylinder above described, the insulatingtubes 11 surrounding the bolts 10, and the insulating washers 12 underthe metallic washers and nuts on the ends of the bolts, and a. completeinsulating section is thus provided which is not only eliicient so faras its insulating qualities are concerhed but is also strong and durableand is unaflected by contact with water in its interior or by changes inatmospheric conditions, the elastic nature of the rubber flanges 7 beingsuflicient to accommodate any expansion or contraction of the partswhich may occur.

An insulating pipe section of the character described may obviously beused at any point in a pipe system at which it is desired to insulatetwo portions of the system from each other, and such an arrangement isuseful not only for the purpose previously described, but also forpreventing the destruction of underground sprinkler or other pipingbyelectrolysis situations where an electric current is l1a' 'ble to findits way through the pipe system;

For example, in the case of an ordinary dryp1pe sprinkler systeminstalled 1n a car-barn, there is always the possibility of}establishing circuit from the trolley Wires to the sprinkler plpingabove the ground,

and. thence through the underground pipmg to the ra ls and back tothepowerhouse' This danger is efiectively overcome by; the: employment ofmy insulating pipe section,.and Whilel have found that the specificfornr of insulating cylinder above described is particularly serviceablefor its intended purpose, this cyllnder as Well as the other details ofthe lnsulatlng'pipe section as a Whole may be modified in vari innerends of said end sections, insulated.

clamping devices connecting the end sections on the outside of thecylinder, and elastic packing held under compression between the endfaces of said cylinder'and the opposed innerends of said end sections.2. An insulating pipe section of the character described, comprising endsections and subscribed 'iny gust, 19:11. T

an intermediate rigid cylinder held-end to;

e11d, s aid cylinder'being made-bf Wood and i provided with aninsulating"water proof lining having compressible and elastic flangedends j overlappjing' the ends cylinder.

3;;An insulating pipe' section ofthe charactor described, comprising:end sections 7 having'attached flanges, a Woodencylinder."

extending endWise between said} sections and having asoftrubberliningithend flanges 1 held' under compression'betweefi lthe ends of thecylinder and the end sections, and insulated bolts connec ing the endsectionszj v v L-An insulating'pipe section 'of the char acterdescribed, comprising "end-section's 7 having attaching flanges and aninsulating cylinder located 1 betweeni'the i samefin 0011- on theoutside of said: cylinder;

centric relationitherewith,:said cylinder being composed of Woodenstares 'connected together:- and provlded' wltha soft-rubber i lininghawn'g. outwardly extendlng flanges at its ends,"bolts connectingtheinner flanges of said end-sect ons" and provided withnuts,

In testimony whereof, I hairefhereunto Witnesses r V: r v V LEONARDSTANLEY; TAB R; r JOSEPH" FRAN one I CONLEY.

"Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, eyeddressing the co ziiiiii ssidner cg Patents;

Washington, D. 0.

'60' insulating tubes surrounding ,saidbolts, and insulating Washersbeneath said nuts;

naniethis wth"dayjof int; V

